California has one of the richest and most diverse environments with more than 4,400 native plants that support hundreds of insects and pollinators.

However, urbanization has derailed things a bit, making it important, says horticulturist and Bay Area News Group columnist Patrice Hanlon, that gardeners create small pockets of habitat by growing native plants.

Hanlon says gardeners should use native plants to build the bones of their gardens, which can then be filled in with other plants. Here are some of her tips for creating native gardens.

• Native plants can thrive in areas where there has been little preparation and care as long as you know some of the basics about the plant, such as the conditions where they grow naturally. Like all plants, you need to put them where they have the best chance of survival.

• We often talk about cutting back on water once the plant is established, but how long does that take? For most natives, Hanlon says, it can be two to three years. During that time, you’ll need to provide regular water. Once established, watering can be greatly reduced, depending on the plant.

• A successful garden often starts in the nursery where you buy plants. Make sure the plants have been grown in the right soil and haven’t been over-fertilized.

• The ratio of plant size to pot size is important. Plant height should be evenly matched with plant roots, thus a 5-foot plant growing in a 1-gallon pot is likely root bound.